Belt-lacing machine



Dec. 10, 1935. A. VALLE BELT LACING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l VALLE AME/c0 INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ Dec. 10, 1935. A. VALLE BELT LACING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALAP/CO WLLE INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 10, 1935 urrn snr 5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to belt lacing machines and more particularly to a belt lacing machine which stitches a continuous wire coil through the belt.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby widths of belts are prepared for butt-jointing by stitching wire coils through the opposing widths to form projecting wire loops, and thereafter compressing these said projecting wire loops.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine which is composed of a minimum number of parts, a machine simple to manipulate, and manually operated.

An additional object of the invention is provision of a machine wherein the separate parts are easily assembled and replaceable.

This machine, by virtue of its principle of operation effects belt joints the parts of which do not overlap as in sewing, joints which do not weaken the belts to the same extent that other methods of connection do and joints wherein any short lengths of belting material may be brought together to form a continuous belt without appreciably impairing the flexibility of the said resultant belting. a

A further advantage of the invention herein is the rapid making within a few minutes of neat, smooth and jarless connections which can easily be taken apart and replaced.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will appear hereinafter in the progress of this disclosure.

Accompanying this specification and forming part thereof are drawings showing a preferred form of the invention and on which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout these several views.

Figure l is a top plan view of the machine, the object of the invention herein, showing the main support thereof together with the other operative parts.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2 and shows a belt portion in operative position with respect to the machine preliminary to either the perforation or stitching of an end thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 3-4 of Figure 1, showing the rollers in inoperative position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of any one of the longitudinal rollers comprising the machine showing the surface teeth and the engagement therewith of stitching material in the form of a wire coil.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section showing an edge of any belting with the wire loop stitched therein. 5

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing opposing edges of belting having end projecting wire coil loops compressed and the said compressed loops being intermeshed together in hinge fashion and being pliably held in place by means of a non- 10 metallic pin.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing two ends of a belting sought to be joined, the said ends having been stitched by wire coils, thereafter having been compressed and subsequently having the projecting loops straightened out for intermeshing purposes.

Figure 9 is a View in elevation showing a width of a wire coil used for stitching purposes.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the several views cylindrical and adjustable upright l0 has aflixed to the upper portion thereof a seat member I l, said seat member I! being preferably a casting and serving as the support for the frame work of the machine. The frame work comprises a rear longitudinal member having a lower portion l2 substantially semi-circular in section, the said lower portion extending upwardly to form a back plate l3.

it represents a rectangular opening in the back plate l3 as is best shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, Ma being the upper face and Mb being the lower face of the said opening.

Lower portion I2 of the rear longitudinal member has extending forwardly from the front face thereof an apron plate l5 downwardly inclined throughout the length of the said longitudinal rear member, the apron plate l5 being provided with a front and side guide flanges l6.

Three longitudinal rollers having external teeth 53 in the form of transverse rings on the surface thereof, to form intermediate grooves and being in spaced and parallel relation and operatively co-acting with each other are rotatably mounted in end bearing plates, the said bearing plates being affixed in corresponding circular housings, the said housings being webbed preferably to the front face of back plate l3 and to the side guide flanges l6 as best shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

l'l designates the upper roller; 18 designates the outer roller and I9 designates the clamping roller. i la. represents the neck of upper roller I! and is reduced therefrom in diameter only to be 55 enlarged again to form a spur gear wheel I'Ic at one end thereof. ISa similarly is the neck portion of outer roller 58 reduced in diameter and enlarged to form a spur gear wheel I80 at the end of said outer roller I8. Isa likewise designates the neck portion of the lower and clamping roller I 9 and is first increased in diameter to form an enlarged shoulder I96, then reduced thereafter to form a second neck portion I 9d and finally enlarged to form a spur gear wheel I90, all as best shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. Rollers Il, I8, and I9 at the ends opposite from the neck portions Ila, I81, and Ida are provided with similar and reduced portions Ilb, IBD, and I9?) respectively serving to act as spindles for the rotation of rollers I1, I8, and I9.

2|] represents a circular and left bearing plate.

for rollers I7, I8, and I3 and has two spaced cylindrical borings for spindles I 'Ib and I 81), the third spindle I912 being providedwith a. slotted bearing guide in 2|! cooperating witha shifting rod 44 hereinafter to be described to offer both rotational and linear movementfor roller I9.

Similarly, 2| represents a circular and right bearing plate for rollers I I, I8, and I 9 and is excavated from the inner face thereof to preferably a greater part of the width of the said 2| to form a separate bearing for spur gear wheel Ilc, a separate bearing for spur gear wheel I80, and a slotted bearing guide Zia cooperating with a shifting rod hereinafter to be described to offer both rotational and linear movement for roller I9.

Housings 22 and 23 hereinbefore mentioned are connected to the frame work of the machine by means of webs 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b respectively, these webs joining the front face of back plate I3 near the side edges thereof and the side guide flanges I6 of apron plate I5. Set screws 24 and 25 situated on housings 22 and 23 function to set and maintain the opposite positions of left and right, bearing plates 29 and 2| into which are mounted the parallel, longitudinal and spaced rollers I8, and HI.

26 is a concentric boss on the outer face of right bearing plate 2|, the said concentric boss and right bearing plate having a central bore extending approximately mid-way and inwardly of plate 2!, the saidbore continuing in a reduced diameter to the inner face of plate 2|. A driving gear wheel intermeshing with spur gear wheels I10, I80, and I90 occupies the centralbore above mentioned as a bearing, and a projecting concentric andtreduced portion thereof or spindle occupying the bore of reduced diameter as an auxiliary bearing. The assembly of the driving gear wheel includes a crank lever, a shoulder 28 abutting the outer face of boss 26, a driving gear wheel 3|, a concentric and projecting spindle 32, an annular groove 29 at the outer and non-toothed portion of wheel 3| at the boss area and a set screw 33 adapted to fit into groove 29 from 1005526 to prevent withdrawal of driving gear wheel 3| from its bearing in right bearing plate 2|.

a 35? is a cylindrical and longitudinal shaft penetrating the rear longitudinal member of the frame work of the machine at the lower portion I2, and has two similar eccentric spindles 34 and 35 equidistant from the centerof shaft33, these said spindles supporting upright rods 35 and 31 which penetrate lower face Mbof rectangular opening I4. The said rods 3E and 31 are furnished with vertical borings as bearings, the said borings extending in the rear longitudinal member clamping lever 49 in the lower position eifectuates from lowerface l lb of opening I4 to eccentric spindlesfid and 35. Rods 36 and 3'I at their upper ends support a vise plate 39 having free play between upper and lower faces Ma and Mb of rectangular opening I 4. 5 Between the upper face of vise plate 39 and upper face Ida of rectangular opening It, the end of a belt 4|, of any non-metallic material, such as leather, composition, felt and the like, is fed forwardly for purposes of preparing an edge 10 thereof for butt-jointing purposes. As has hereinbefore been mentioned, roller I9 is a clamping roller, and in addition to rotational motion, the said roller I3 must have linear displacement along 7 the guide slots therefor developed in the left and 15 right bearing plates 2|] and 2| respectively. To accomplish such linear displacement in roller I9, cylindrical shaft 33 simultaneously with its displacement of rods 36 and 37 by means of eccentric spindles 3?! and 35 respectively is provided with 20 cooperating means to effect linear displacement of roller I9.

42 and 43 represent longitudinal J notches along an element of cylindrical shaft 33, being positioned outside the eccentric spindles 34 and 5 35 and extending to the ends of cylindrical shaft 33. Rods 44 and 45 hereinafter to be designated as shifting rods for clamping roller I9 are wedgeshaped at their lower ends to articulate with V notches 42 and 43 respectively. The upper ends 30 of shifting rods 44 and 45 are worked out in the form of semi-cylindrical surfaces as and 41 respectively, these said surfaces acting as the support bearings for clamping roller I9 at spindles I'Qband I90 respectively. Vifnen shifting rods 44 35' and 45 are lowered, clamping roller I9 is'lowered, and driving gear Wheel 3| looses its mesh with spur gear wheel I90 which fact prevents the machine from operating as will hereinafter appear. The lowering of clamping roller I9 is simultaneously accompanied by a lowering of rods 36 and 3'! by virtue of the special interrelation between eccentric spindles 34 and 35 and the V notches 42 and 23 respectively.

Shifting rods 44 and 45 are provided with up- 45' ward and forwardly inclined hearings in the form of borings penetrating the frame work and housings of the machine, the borings being coextensive in direction with the side walls of the guide slots the left end of member I2 of the frame work while 49 is a clamping lever affixed to collar 38. 5|! is an annular groove in cylindrical shaft 33 with set screw 5| penetrating the same from member 55 I2 to prevent withdrawal of the said shaft from its bearing in I2. 52 is a set screw ailixing collar 38 to the cylindrical shaft 33.

In Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings a tightening of vise plate 39 and at, the same time raises roller I9 to its single and critical operative position. This simultaneous action is due to the fact that when lever 48 is lowered from its upright position the wedge-shaped ends of shifting rods 45 and 46 are immediately forced out of V notches 42 and 43, respectively thereby causing the said shifting rods to raise roller I9 in critical position and against the width of belt 3! to be operated upon. Thereafter eccentric spindles 34 and 35 operate to raise rods 35 and 3? during which period the lower edges of the shifting rods remain at the same radial distance with respect to shaft 33.

53 represents a helical perforator or cutter and is adapted to be passed through an orifice 54 in the left bearing plate and led into the grooves of rollers ll, i8, and 19. The rollers ll, I8, and !9 at the grove portions thereof are so situated that the helical perforator touching the grooves of each roller is caused to travel in screw-like fashion to the opposite end of the machine where it falls out on the apron plate I5, the screw-like travel of the helical perforatcr being actuated by turning crank lever 27 toward the operator.

It therefore becomes manifest that when a belt of any non-metallic material to be butt-jointed such as ll is fed forwardly through rectangular opening M until the forward edge thereof abuts the teeth 55 of front roller I8, and when clamping lever 39 is lowered from its unclamping and normal upright position to the lower position to wedge the rear portion of belt 4| between vise plate 39 and upper face Ma, and to shift roller 15 to critical clamping position for a substantially standard thickness of belting, the lacing machine is prepared for its operation. Thereafter helical perforator 53 is passed through orifice 54 by means of any pin until the perforator strikes the rollers. I-Iereupon the crank 21 is turned with the right hand slowly and forwardly to the operator, While at the same time the left hand of the operator pushes the helical perforator 53 with any pin lightly against the rollers, turning the said perforator in the direction of the turning of crank 21'. The perforator 53 is then seized by the three rollers and by a continued turning of crank 21 the perforator continues to travel axially between the three rollers ll, I8 and it and during such travel perforates the tightly held belt 4! for its entire width near the forward edge thereof. The perforator 55 falls out by its own weight at the right at the neck of the three rollers l1, l8 and 55 is a wire lacing coil of the same helical dimensions as perforator 53 and constitutes the lacing material for the butt-jointing of belts. A piece of such wire coil 55 as long as the width of the tightly held belt is cut off by means of a wire cutter; when cutting, care must be exercised not to cut the wire on a slant. If the lacing coil 55 is cut on a slant, then the front of the end must be directed outwardly so that it may enter the perforations in belt 4| screw-like fashion.

The cut-off piece of wire coil 55 is then introduced through orifice E i and passed through to the rollers l1, l8, and it. When crank 21 is turned wire lacing coil 55 screws itself through the rare-perforated holes in the firmly secured belt 4 I. When it is seen between the rolls that the wire coil has moved across the entire width of the belt and perhaps projects on either side of the same by a few turns, the turning of crank 21 is discontinued and the belt is released by the lifting of hand lever M to a vertical position. Hereupon wire coil 55 stitched into an edge of belt 4! and projecting therefrom in the form of rounded loops is clamped between upper face Ida, and vise plate 39 and is pressed fiat by the downward movement of clamping lever 49. During this operation the wire 55 must be thoroughly pressed into the material of the belt. When the wire coil 5 has already been stitched into the edge of belt ii and compressed the ends projecting off the side edges of belt ii are cut off with a wire cutter and the loose ends of the wire coil doubled back to prevent injury to the operator. If there is any slight twist in the wire loops projecting from edge of belt ii the said loops'represented by number 551) may be straightened out With a pair of pliers, the resultant lacing appearing as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings. The complementary belting Ma is similarly treated as H and offers projecting wire loops 550.

After both ends of the belt are provided with wire loops as hereinabove mentioned the two ends of the belt are brought together and intermeshed by means of these loops 55b and 550 and the joint is then completed by means of a strip of gut fiber 5'1, or other similar material the length of the width of the joint.

It is important to set forth the fact that the machine described hereinabove is adapted for specific thicknesses of belting, the helical perforator 53 being of a size which cooperates with a specific spacial arrangement of the three grooved rollers ll, i8, and I9. Moreover, each machine is adapted for a particular width of belt to be laced. It is significant that the width of the machine may be altered and the helical dimensions of perforator 53 enlarged or decreased with accompanying rearrangement of rollers l1, l8 and IS in order to accommodate the lacing of belting of different widths and thicknesses.

Driving gear wheel 3i instead of being manually operated can be electrically driven.

I wish it distinctly understood that minor changes, consolidations and rearrangements of parts of this machine which embody the same mode of operation may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

1. In a machine for belt lacing of the character described, a stationary frame, two grooved rollers in spaced and parallel relation mounted therein, a third single roller shiftably mounted in said stationary frame, an actuating spindle revolubly mounted within the said stationary frame, the said actuating spindle having reduced eccentric portions and cut out portions on the surface thereof, clamping means supported by the said reduced eccentric portions and shifting means supported by the said actuating spindle in conjunction with the cut out portions whereby upon rotation of the said actuating spindle, the third roller is shifted operative position and the clamping means are shifted to operative position in consecutive order.

2. In a machine for belt lacing of the character described, a stationary frame, a plurality of grooved rollers in spaced and parallel relation mounted therein, a third similar roller shiftably mounted in said stationary frame, an actuating spindle revolubly mounted within the said stationary frame, the said actuating spindle having reduced eccentric portions and cut out portions on the surface thereof, clamping means supported by the said reduced eccentric portions and shifting means supported by the said actuating spindle in conjunction with the cut out portions whereby upon rotation of the said actuating spindle, the third roller is shifted to operative 6 position and the clamping means are shifted to operative position in consecutive order.

3. In a machine for belt lacing utilizing a stationary frame, a clamping roller shiftably mounted in said stationary frame, an actuating spindle revolubly mounted within the said stationary frame, the said actuating spindle having reduced eccentric portions and out out portions on the surface thereof, clamping means supported by the said reduced eccentric portions and shifting means supported by the said actuating spindie in conjunction with the cut out portions whereby upon rotation of the said actuating spindle, the clamping roller is shifted to operative position and the clamping means are shifted to operative position in. consecutive order.

4. In a machine for belt lacing utilizing a stationary frame, a clamping roller shiftably mounted in said frame, an actuating spindle revolubly mounted within the said stationary frame, the said actuating spindle having cut out portions on the surface thereof, shifting means supported by the said actuating spindle in conjunction with the said out out portions Whereby upon rotation of the said actuating spindle, the said clamping roller is shifted to operative position.

5. In a machine for belt lacing utilizing a stationary frame, a clamping member mounted Within said stationary frame, an actuating spindle revolubly mounted within the said stationary frame, the said actuating spindle having reduced eccentric portions supporting the said clamping member whereby upon rotation of the said actu- 10 ating spindle, the clamping member is shifted to operative position.

ALARICO VALLE. 

